Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr and Scotch Plains Mayor Kevin Glover at the NJ League of Municipalities in Atlantic City.
Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr and Scotch Plains Mayor Kevin Glover at the NJ League of Municipalities ...Credits: John Mooney

Scotch Plains Township Administrator Al Mirabella at the exhibitor floor at the NJ League of Municipalities.
Scotch Plains Township Administrator Al Mirabella at the exhibitor floor at the NJ League of ...Credits: John Mooney

In her introduction, Mahr explained that towns with restaurants that have liquor licenses makes for a vibrant downtown that attracts Millennials and empty nesters. She said that state laws, adopted in the 1940s, were a reaction to the end of Prohibition and that the reasons for passing them do not exist today. For example, only one license is given for each 3,000 people who live in a town.

Other seminars covered topics such as Affordable Housing, Transparency in Goverment, Transportation Trust Fund Solutions, and improving Communications Strategies. TAPinto.net founder and publisher Mike Shapiro was a presenter for the communications panel.

The convention also assembles businesses looking to sell their products and services to municipalities, including snow plows, paving services, and financial services. The evenings are filled with parties -- featuring free flowing booze and food -- hosted by various county political organizations and municipal vendors. The conference, which at times seems to be something of a victory lap for newly elected officials, happens annually shortly after Election Day.

Local attendees included Fanwood's Mayor Mahr and Council Members Kevin Boris, Russ Huegel, and Jack Molenaar, Scotch Plains Mayor Kevin Glover, Township Manager Al Mirabella and Councilman Llewellyn Jones. Former Governor Donald DiFrancesco was a participant on a panel of former governors, including Brendan Byrne, Jim Florio, and Jim McGreevey that assessed the job Governor Chris Christie has done this year.

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family of Scotch Plains native Jessica Yorkovich, who was born with Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), a rare congenital bone marrow failure disease.

Jessica has been on medication for all of her life to help control her condition. For the past 10 years, she has needed monthly blood transfusions to augment her red blood cell ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family of Scotch Plains ...

FANWOOD, NJ -- The Friends of the Fanwood Memorial Library 32nd Fall Book Sale generated $12,780, a record breaker. Credit goes to the 78 volunteers who worked more than 600 hours sorting, selling, and cleaning up. All the money raised by the Friends goes to the library.

“It was an amazing turn out of volunteers who worked hard and long to make the sale successful for our library programs.

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- Ever wanted to own your own amusement park like Michael Jackson? Now you can, and your don't have to wait on line for tickets!

Bowcraft, the scene of countless local children's birthday parties and decades of summer fun in Union County, has closed forever, but thanks to an online liquidation sale, you can purchase rides such as the Galleon, the Scrambler or the Flying ...

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ -- Ever wanted to own your own amusement park like Michael Jackson? Now you can, ...

FANWOOD, NJ -- Kathryn M. Schurtz, the daughter of former Fanwood Councilwoman Karen Schurtz, died tragically with her fiancé, Joseph D. Kearney, in a car accident as the couple were traveling to their wedding in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018.

Kathryn, 35, grew up in Fanwood and graduated from Union Catholic High School in 2001. She received her liberal arts degree from George ...

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - Puleo International, a third generation family owned manufacturer and distributor of unique handcrafted holiday décor items, is opening their doors to the public for their 14th Annual Christmas Sale.

Puleo’s Warehouse sale rings in the holiday season much like Christmas music in late November. The doors open daily will sales running from now thru Dec. 10. The warehouse ...

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - Puleo International, a third generation family owned manufacturer and ...

LATHAM, NY -- Scotch Plains resident John Guittard, who is assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, has received a promotion to the rank of Captain in the New York Army National Guard. Capt. Guittard's promotion was announced by Major General Ray Shields, Adjutant General for the State of New York, in recognition of his capability for additional responsibility and leadership.